Teen charged over pregnant woman stabbing
A 14-year-old boy, charged with breaking into a pregnant woman’s home in Sydney’s north and attempting to stab her to death in the space of six minutes, has been formally refused bail in a children’s court.
Pei-Jiun Cheah, who is seven months’ pregnant, is in a stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital after being stabbed multiple times in the chest and abdomen in the attack at her two-storey brick house in Mt Colah on Thursday night.
The child she is carrying is also in a stable condition, the 33-year-old’s family said in a statement on Saturday.
A local teenager, allegedly responsible, was found on a nearby street with hand injuries after the attack and underwent surgery himself later in the evening, police say.
He has been charged with attempted murder, special aggravated break-and-enter and committing a serious indictable offence, and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The charges are all related to Ms Cheah in her own home between 8.45pm and 8.51pm, according to court documents.
The 14-year-old was legally represented in Parramatta Children’s Court on Saturday morning.
His lawyer made no application for bail and it was formally refused by magistrate Paul Mulroney, who adjourned the matter to Surry Hills Children’s Court on September 25.
The teenager is due to appear via video link on that date.
Cheah’s family speak out
Ms Cheah’s family said they will be making no comment on the suspect as the investigation is before the court.
“We would like to acknowledge the brave acts of kindness and care that the neighbourhood of Mt Colah extended to Pei-Jiun, in the short moments after the assault,” the family said in a statement.
“We likewise thank the emergency services and medical staff who promptly responded in getting Pei-Jiun to safety, and the police personnel for their immediate investigation into the matter.”
They have requested respect and privacy, saying they are all now “solely focused” on Ms Cheah’s full recovery.
